How's it going MrF June 2009?

Well, basically it isn't... Far too much to do, work, work, work, work & soon some holidays. No time for gaming or painting. Sorry folks but it will probably be the back end of July before there's anything new to report. Take care & happy gaming.....

BTGG1 Byzantines vs Sassanids

The first game in our 'Beyond the Golden Gate' Campaign. Jack took the Sassanids (boo hiss) while I had to have the Byzantines. Double sized armies on a large table, plenty of Horsemen as well. It would be nice to see the large 6 figure Byzantine Cavalry elements in action too. One side of the battlefield had small hills, while rough terrain was placed on the other.

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Byzantines on the left & Sassanids on the right.

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Set-up & direction of attacks.

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A large open area dominated the centre.

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The Byzantine right had Light Horse & Psiloi, I'm after Jack's camp...

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The mighty Sassanid host, Clibinarii, Cataphracts & Elephants

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The Byzantine centre, Cavalry, Knight & Blades

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On the Byzantine right, the Horsemen manoeuvre for position.

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On the other flank, the Byzantine have the numbers, could I make them count though?

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Arrows fly across the field as the Horsemen clash...

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Ha Ha! Back go the Sassanids...

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The Sassanid lights race for cover...

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The centre lines are about to clash...

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Jack's got the numbers on this side...

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Boo! Down goes one of the big Byzantine Cavalry elements.

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Another round & recoils...

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The Sassanid line is in a nice shape, I'm struggling to adjust the Byzantine line.

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Come on... Hopefully the Byzantine Light Horse will 'do the job'.

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Wooaa Lovely pic... The centre engages....

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Bow & Lance, Man & Horse.....

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I'm banking on this one, the Elite German Horse seek out the Sassanid Hordes....

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The Sassanids get the upper hand in the centre....

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....and again another Byzantine goes down. The best I can do is force back the Sassanids.

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Gggrrrrr.... Back go the Byzantine Light Horse on the flank.

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The Sassanids bully the Byzantines...

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RaHOO!!!! The Mighty Sassanid Hordes get ready for action!!!

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The centre is all over the place.

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The Sassanid Light Horse get the better of the Hun Light Horse.

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Pile in everything!!!! Surely the Byzantine left flank can win through...??

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Even the Byzantine General is committed to the action.

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AAAAARRGGHH!! Just when the dice roll for me..

Jack 'invokes' the Sassanid General's special ability, Divinity.

He gets to re-roll the dice and.....down go the Byzantine Light Horse.

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I'm shaking my head at this point....

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At least the Byzantine General is fighting back.

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Down goes casualties 7 & 8, Victory to the Mighty Sassanids.....

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We finish off the turn... A small consolation for the Byzantines....

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Well on the scale of 'Whoopings' that has to be the Biggest Whooping of all time....

Jack is happy once more, he's back to winning ways. Cue the sound of 'EASY EASY EASY'

Procedure for an EASY (Cocky teenager teasing their father)

1. Place both arms, out-streched to the side

2. Bring both out-stretched arms together overhead & clap hands.

3. Throughout shout EASY EASY EASY!

4. Repeat.... Getting faster & louder!

Oh the shame! My Byzantine generalship is truly appalling.

III/51 Normans

Here's our Norman army just to finish off our dip into the realms of 1066. Very heavy on the Knights, with Cavalry, Spear & Psiloi. We've had to dig deep into our Early Crusader army just to make up the quota of Knights.

III/51 Norman or Western Frankish 888AD - 1072Ad
1x3Kn(Gen), 5x3(Kn), 1x3Kn or 3Cv or 2Lh, 1x3Kn or 3Cv,
2x4Sp, 2x2Ps or 3Bw

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The Mighty host.....

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The Horsemen ready for action..

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Duke William leads the Knights under the Papal Banner.

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The 'Heroic' Breton Cavalry, who caused so much damage in our Hastings game.

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Light Horse

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Norman Spears

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Bows

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Psiloi.

DBA Battle of Hastings 1066

Right then, it's off to the Battle of Hastings, keeping the theme of '1066 the Battle for Middle Earth'.... Our intrepid heroes have just thrashed the mighty Vikingr. No sooner have they settled down for a cup of nettle tea, then news reaches them that 'The Orcs' have landed, the Normans have hit the shores of Middle-Earth.


To run this game we used the 'Battle of Hastings' scenario from the book on the left, Historical Medieval Battles by Peter Sides. It's basically full of famous battles set to DBA/DBM Army sizes. Well worth it, if you can get hold of a copy. In this scenario the Norman's have 26 elements to the Anglo-Saxon's 21. We set victory for the first 8 kills. Extra rules for the battle..... First, the Anglo-Saxon's would have to hold the hill in a Shieldwall & could not advance 'en masse'. Second, ...however if a combat resulted in an enemy recoil or any Norman element in contact retreated, then the Anglo-Saxon element would follow up (like a Knight). This would give a little realism to Anglo-Saxon's actions on the day.

Well Jack & Amy's 'bloodlust' was up & they opted for command of the Norman's, while yours truly would be 'pinned' to Senlac Hill........... Bring it On!!!

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The Battle of Hastings set-up

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Anglo-Saxon set-up

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The Norman's arrayed in three Battle groups...

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The Norman's Attack!

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Up the hill they come, Spear & Bow first.

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Harold's Huscarls stand ready...

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The Breton's advance, the Breton Cavalry is ready to help out.

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Arrows & Bolts fly everywhere, but only 1 element recoils.

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In go the Norman Spears.....

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RaHoo!!! Down go TWO Norman Spears..!!

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HA HA HA!!! Take the pain Jack!

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On the left it's pretty much stalemate.

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Overview at this point, the Norman centre is buckling,

while on the right it could be a bit tricky as the Anglo-Saxon

Shieldwall is getting dragged down the hill.

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Jack sees the opportunity & the Breton Cavalry advances.

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Norman Knights wait for an opening.

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The right flank, the Breton's give ground.

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In the centre, the Norman Knights advance to plug the gap.

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It's not good for the Anglo-Saxon's, as they get dragged down the

hill in the centre.

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The Norman's have the advantage in numbers on the right.

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A better view of the right flank.

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Aaaargh! The Breton Cavalry pounces....

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Booo! Down go the Heroic Fyrd.

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Some Huscarls are mega impetuous & push the Norman's right down the Hill.

Meanwhile the Norman Knights Charge!!!!!

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The charge of the Huscarls!

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However the supporting Huscarls are pushed back.

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The Breton Spears retire, dragging the Anglo-Saxons with them.

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Overview of the battle. The Anglo-Saxon lines are shown in dotted Maroon.

However the Shiedwall is broken in too many places (broad maroon line).

The Anglo-Saxon right flank is not looking good.

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Good Old Harold stands like a Rock.

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Jack is slowly picking apart the Anglo-Saxon right flank.....

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The Norman centre is steadied & the attack is back on.

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Come on! The Huscarls hack the Norman's to pieces...

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Nooooo! The Spear & Cavalry combo's are killing the Anglo-Saxon Right.

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Another view of the right flank.

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On the left flank, Amy sends in the Norman Knights.

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YES!!! What an opportunity, the MAD Huscarls hack their way through....

.....Duke William is in sight!

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The casualties are mounting for the Anglo-Saxon's.

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The Breton Cavalry is running the show.

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"It's Clobbering time!".....in goes Harold

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Amy's Knights gallop up the hill.

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Visions of a great Victory are..... dashed!

Duke William holds out & the MAD Huscarls bite the dust.

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The Anglo-Saxon's are still in the game... Come on!!

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ANNOYING!!!! The pesky Breton Cavalry..........

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Go on our Harold!!! The Dragon Banner is flying in the wind.

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The right flank is a shambles.... From an Anglo-Saxon point of view!

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'Harold & the Fyrd' could swing the battle!

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I quickly form a defence on the right.

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Another Norman is thrashed in the centre...

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It's carnage, but it's close.... Casualties all over.

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NOOO!! The Normans take the day 8-6...

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However.... Our Harold isn't a casualty....

Edith Swan-Neck, on a white charger, gallops to Harolds rescue.

They leg it from Senlac Hill......... To raise another Army????

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The horror's are whooping loudly, The Normans win our version of Hastings, just like history. However it was very close indeed. We felt the extra rules were spot on, the splintering of the Shieldwall worked well. It allowed the Breton Cavalry to make a big impression.

SO, does it end here? Who knows perhaps a Anglo-Saxon/Welsh/Scots Army may take on William the Conqueror next???